DITCH YOUR OLD PC IN 2021
Let’s face it, 2020 has been a year to forget. We’ve endured health fears, lockdowns, work-fromhome orders and months apart from friends and family. It’s also been the year we’ve all been using our PCs more than ever – for streaming, downloading, working and gaming. But is your PC still up to the increased workload? If not, it might be finally time to ditch it and get the computer you always wanted.
We’re confident that the reviews and recommendations in each issue of Computeractive will help you in your buying decisions, but we wouldn’t blame you for wanting to browse online stores and – pandemic permitting – high-street shops to see what else is available. We also know that, with their long, unwieldy names and specifications that leave your head in a spin, it’s not easy knowing which PC is right for you.
As always, we’re here to help. Over the next few pages, we’ll explain all you need to know about those vital components – processor, graphics card, memory, storage and more – and what to prioritise when buying a new desktop PC or laptop. We’ll reveal which components can make your PC faster and which you can afford to scale back on, helping you avoid splashing out on things you simply don’t need.
Even if you aren’t currently in the market for a new PC, our advice will help you understand your machine better and provide handy tips if you’re thinking of upgrading specific components.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
• What makes processors perform faster
• Why graphics cards aren’t just for gamers
• How to choose exactly the right amount of memory and storage
• How to save hundreds of pounds by buying refurbished PCs and laptops
CHOOSE THE RIGHT PROCESSOR
Sometimes referred to as a central processing unit (CPU), the processor is best thought of as the brains of your PC. Although modern computers are able to shift some of the work to your graphics card (more on this later), the processor still handles the majority of tasks - from running programs and background services (such as your antivirus and backups) to ensuring Windows runs smoothly.
AMD used to be seen as the cheaper and lower-performing of the two major processor manufacturers (the other being Intel), but these days there’s very little to separate them in terms of performance. Both offer a huge range of processors and understanding the relative merits of each is a complicated business, so instead we’ll look at specific AMD and Intel processors in a moment. First when considering which processor you need, keep in mind clock speed and cores.
Clock speeds
Clock speed (measured in GHz) indicates how fast a processor is – the higher the clock speed, the quicker it
